Michikamau Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michikamau Lake |
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 Michikamau Lake
Location in Newfoundland and Labrador
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| Location | Labrador, Canada |
| Coordinates | 54°11′00″N 63°59′57″W / 54.18333°N 63.99917°W |
Michikamau Lake is a large lake located in Labrador, Canada. It's not quite the same as it used to be! In 1974, this lake became a big part of the Smallwood Reservoir.
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Michikamau Lake: A Lake Transformed
Michikamau Lake is found in the vast wilderness of Labrador, which is a part of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. For many years, it was a natural lake.
How Michikamau Lake Changed: The Smallwood Reservoir
In 1974, something big happened that changed Michikamau Lake forever. It was absorbed into a much larger body of water called the Smallwood Reservoir. This happened when the Churchill Falls Generating Station was completed.
The Smallwood Reservoir is one of the largest reservoirs in the world. A reservoir is like a giant artificial lake. It's created by building a dam across a river. This dam holds back water, forming a huge lake behind it.
Michikamau Lake now makes up the largest part of the eastern side of the Smallwood Reservoir. Another lake, Lobstick Lake, forms the biggest part of the western side.
Why Was the Reservoir Built?
The Smallwood Reservoir was created to help power the Churchill Falls Generating Station. This station is a huge hydroelectric power plant. Hydroelectric power uses the force of moving water to create electricity.
Water from the reservoir flows through giant tunnels and pipes. It then spins large turbines, which are like big wheels. These turbines are connected to generators that make electricity. This clean energy helps power homes and businesses.
An Early Expedition to Michikamau Lake
Long before the reservoir was built, Michikamau Lake was a remote and challenging place to reach. In the early 1900s, it was the goal of a famous expedition.
Three explorers, Leonidas Hubbard, Dillon Wallace, and George Elson, set out to reach the lake. Their journey was very difficult and full of challenges. Dillon Wallace later wrote a book about their adventure called The Lure Of The Labrador Wild. This book shared their experiences and helped people learn more about the wild Labrador region.
